Last year the swans did not breed in St Stephen's Green (Dublin). I missed them terribly so was thrilled to see a new family again this year. I always walk through the park on my way to work in the morning (I like it at that time when it has just opened and I have it almost to myself). This year I've been able to follow the progress of the little family as the cygnets have matured.
I kept forgetting to bring my camera with me after I first spotted them so I did not get any photos of the 'day old chick' stage. They cygnets were already a couple of weeks old before I eventually remembered to put the camera in my bag before I left for work.
They are such a wonderfully close-knit family unit. The two adult swans are perfect parents - constantly protective and devoted to their young.
I love the way they swim in formation - usually with one parent in the lead and one bringing up the rear.
It is like family life in microcosm and I can't help feeling sad because I know it is for such a limited time. Usually the park has either one adult swan or at most a breeding pair. I don't suppose the area is big enough to support increasing numbers of adult birds. When I watch them they seem so content and so much like a family in human terms. I know this little idyll will end soon - and that they are blissfully unaware of it.
This is quite a strange photo but I think it is quite effective so I decided to include it.
These last pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago. More and more white is starting to appear and the cygnets are almost full grown. They live such a charmed and cosseted life here. I hope when they are taken away that they end up somewhere equally as nice.
A bit of a gangly ballerina! Eventually this one figured out where its leg was supposed to go, but for a while it kept flapping it awkwardly across its back.
Shop sign with two swans at the top of Grafton Street near to the entrance of the park.
9 comments:
What a perfect family. Thanks so much for sharing the ‘photos I would love to take a walk in ‘your’ park.
I love swans. This isn't a scene you often see in Canada. Ther is a resident family of swans in the river near where we live but I don't get to see them often. Thanks very sharing these pictures. I would also like to shop at the Celtic Jewellers. Maybe someday!
Thanks for the great photos.
Did you know that all swans in England are the property of the Queen. I don't suppose that law counts in Dublin.
Swans are so lovely. I would never make it out of the park. I'd be staring at them all day.
I didn't know all the swans in England belonged to the queen. Lucky her! Makes me wonder though what happens if swans in the republic wander into the North of Ireland - do they suddenly become royal property?!
I also had to smile at the reference to 'my park'. I do have a habit of taking ownership of places that don't belong to me. I confuse the people I work with by talking about 'my forest' when it really belongs to Coillte (they represent and run Irish forestry). I sometimes think its because I grew up in places that were remote and sparsely populated - I came to think of the places I roamed about in as mine as there was no obvious evidence of formal ownership.
Beautiful photos! :D
Your swan photos are amazing Sharon! I didn't know the swans belonged to the Queen - then again doesn't she own everything ... lol.
These swans are beautiful and so tame! We had a pair of wild swans land on our lake earlier this year but we rarely see any. Thank you for sharing these photos!
How beautiful! Nature is just so amazing. I am glad the swans were back this year. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the details. :)
~Jess
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